Rotary tiller



NOV. 1952 'M. s. ARIENS 2,616,348

ROTARY TILLER Filed Oct. 12. 1946 v Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR MANDO S. ARIENS ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1952 s, ARlENs 2,616,348

ROTARY TILLER Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 M6 m5 a 78 6 m7 I I I I I I I I I v I I 4 a ATTORNEY M. S. ARIENS ROTARY TILLER Nov. 4, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 12, 1946 RNEYS Nov. 4, 1952 M1 5. ARIENS ROTARY TILLER 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 12, 1946 INVENTOR MANDO S-ARI NS ATTORNEYS M. S. ARIENS ROTARY TILLER Nov. 4, 1952 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 12, 1946 mm w% m ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1952 M. s. ARIENS 2,616,348

ROTARY TILLER Filed Oct. 12, 1946 7 Sheets-Sheet e INVENTOR I MANDO S.ARIEN5 & BY

ATTO NEYS Nov. 4, 1952 M. s. ARIENS ROTARY TILLER '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 12. 1946 INVENTOR MANDO S.AF\IENS ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 4, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY TILLER Mando S. Ariens, Brillion, Wis.

Application October 12, 1946, Serial No. 702,969

12 Claims. 1

This invention appertains to tillers, cultivators, and the like, and more particularly to an improved rotary row cultivator and is an improvement over my prior Patents Nos. 2,025,494, 2,347,017 and 2,364,043, issued to me respectively on December 24, 1935, April 18, 1944 and December 5, 1944.

In my prior Patent No. 2,364,043 is shown a plurality of rotary tiller or cultivator units suspended from a tractor between the front and rear wheels thereof. While this assembly effectively accomplishes its purpose and is satisfactory in the field, some difliculty is experienced in guiding the tractor straight down the rows with the rotary working implements in proper relation to th growing plants.

It is therefore one of the primary objects of my invention to provide novel means for carrying the rotary earth Working units at the front of the tractor and in full view of the operator on the tractor, whereby the operator can conveniently and quickly line up the units with the rows and maintain the units in proper working relation relative to the rows.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means under the control of the operator of the tractor for lifting the earth working units above the ground whereby to avoid obstructions and to permit the convenient turning of the tractor, etc.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a new and simplified mechanism under the control of the operator for simultaneously raising and lowering all of the tiller units and still permit independent movement of the units the same travel over uneven ground.

A further important object of my invention is to provide novel means for constructing and mounting the individual units on the wheeled frame, whereby a sturdy compact structure will be had and whereby the units' can be adjusted relative to the ground so that the ground working tines or teeth can beset for working the ground to different and desired depths.

A still further object of my invention is to provide novel means for associating plant protecting skirts with the units, so that said skirts can be adjusted toward and away from one another and relative to the growing plants.

A still further important objector my invention is to provide means in the driving assembly for each tiller or cultivator unit for permitting slipping or discontinuance of the drive when the earth working implements striking a solid the attachment will be prevented. I

A still further important object of my invention is to provide novel means for associating the hoods and plant protecting skirts with the individual tiller units whereby the protecting hoods and skirts can be readily raised and lowered relative to the earth working implements or tines, and in accordance with the depth of penetration of the implements or tines in the ground.

A still further important object of my inven tion is to provide a novel parallelogram lever and link suspension for each tiller unit, whereby each tiller unit can float and. be raised or lowered parallel to the ground and conveniently follow the contour of the ground by the use of a single supporting roller.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings:

Figure l is a side elevational view of my improved ground tiller or cultivator and a tractor assembly, parts of the figure being shown broken away and in section.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the cultivator and tractor assembly.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating one of the cultivator units.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating more particularly the improved hood and skirt construction.

Figure 5 is a, detail sectional view taken substantially at right angles to Figure 4 and on the line ii5 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows, the view further illustrating details of the individual tiller unit.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating improved means for simultaneously lifting the individual tiller or cultivator units, the view being on a larger scale than Figures 3, 4 and 5.

Figure 7 is a detail sectional view of the cultivator unit lifting mechanism taken on the line 7-1 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary detail longitudinal sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the 3 arrows, illustrating the novel drive assembly for the upper end of a tiller and cultivator unit.

Figure 9 is a detail transverse sectional view taken on the line 99 of Figure 8, looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the means employed for permitting slipping of the drive for a unit when an obstruction is encountered.

Figur 10 is an enlarged fragmentary detail plan view with parts broken away, illustrating the means for permitting the slipping of the drive.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view through the rock shaft for obtaining the simultaneous lifting of the cultivator units, the view illustrating the means for holding individual units in a lowered position for operatively engaging the soil.

Figure 12 is a fragmentary sectional View taken at right angles to Figure 11 showing the resilient means for holding the lift link for a cultivator unit in a lowered position.

Figure 13 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the line |3-l3 of Figure 12 looking in the direction of the arrows, illustrating the means for increasing or decreasing the tension of a holding spring for one of the lift links.

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view similar to Figure 8, but illustrating a further modified form of slip clutch and the warning alarm for the operator upon the slipping of the clutch.

Figure 15 is a detail sectional view through the slip clutch taken substantially on the line |5|5 of Figure 14 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 16 is a sectional view taken at right angles to Figure 14 and substantially on the line |6|6 of Figure 14 looking in the direction of the arrows illustrating the Warning alarm in detail.

Figure 17 is a detail sectional View through the sleeve clutch mechanism taken substantially on the line of Figure 14 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A generally indicates my improved tiller or cultivator assemblage adopted for novel operative association with a tractor 'I. The tractor T is of the endless track type now commonly found in the open market, and hence the same will not be described in detail. However, the same includes a chassis 20 on which is mounted the power plant and other controls and the side endless tracks 2| and 22. The support for the tracks includes a rear axle housing 23. The endless tracks adjacent to their forward ends are resiliently connected as at 24 with the frame 23 and drive mechanism. Hence, the body of the tractor has limited up and down movement relative to the forward ends of the tracks.

My improved tiller .or cultivator assemblage A includes a supporting frame 25 and this frame preferably includes a pair of spaced parallel supporting beams 23. The forward ends of the beams are connected by a front transversely extending beam 21 and the ends of this front beam extend beyond the longitudinal parallel beams 26. Secured to the front beam 21 are ground wheels 28 and these wheels are of the caster type so that turning of the attachment with the tractor will be facilitated. It is to be also noted that the wheels 28 are preferably in longitudinal alignment with the endless tracks 2| and 22;

'4 The ground wheels 28 can, however, be adjustably clamped to the front bar 2'! so that the wheels can be adjusted toward or away from one another.

The pair of spaced parallel supporting beams 26 extend longitudinally of the tractor T and their rear ends are disposed between the endless tracks 2| and 22 and the chassis or body 20. The rear axle housings 23 on each side of the body have firmly clamped thereto, collars 29 and the upper halves of these collars have formed thereon, upstanding cars 30. The extreme rear ends of the beams 26 carry flat feet 3| which are received between the pairs of ears 30 on the collars. Pivot pins 32 connect the feet 3| of the beams 26 with the ears 33. Consequently, the forward end of the tractor can have independent movement up and down of the beams and likewise the beams can also move up and down relative to the tractor. In order to keep the beams in proper alignment and to guide the same during the independent movement thereof relative to the tractor, one side of the tractor can have bolted, or otherwise fastened thereto, a guide strap 33. This guide strap embraces one of the beams and confines this beam in place.

It is to be also noted that the beams 26 are preferably of a telescoping nature so that the beams can be lengthened or shortened as may be desired so that different sizes of tractors can be accommodated and so that the tiller or cultivator can be set the desired distance in advance of the tractor. Hence, each longitudinal beam 26 includes a front section 34 and a rear section 35. The front sections of the beams telescope over the rear sections and the sections can be held in an adjusted set postion in any preferred Way, such as by the use of set screws 36.

Also secured to the longitudinal beams 26 in spaced relation to the front beam 21 is an intermediate cross beam 37. This intermediate cross beam 31 also forms a part of the frame of the attachment A and this beam is firmly secured to the front longitudinal beam sections 34 in any preferred manner, such as by welding, or the like and, if desired, this intermediate cross beam 31 can be formed from facing channel structural units welded or otherwise fastened together. Openings can be formed in this cross intermediate beam 31 through which the longitudinal beams can extend.

The intermediate cross beam 3'! forms the means for carrying and mounting the individual tiller or cultivator units 38 on the frame 26 of the assemblage, and these units will be later specifically described. It is to be noted, at the present time, that the beam 3! has welded, or otherwise fastened thereto, at spaced points, depending attaching blocks 39, and these blocks in turn have detachably bolted thereto bearing brackets 40. These bearing brackets are built to receive suitable ball or roller bearing races for supporting the main operating shaft 4|. The shaft 4| is of a polygonal shape in cross section and extends the full length of the transverse cross beam 31. This shaft 4| is power driven, either from a power take-off from the tractor or from an independent prime motor 42 shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. Obviously, the frame 25 can be provided with any desired type of carrier for this engine. Keyed, or otherwise fastened to the shaft 4|, is a pulley wheel 43 which is driven from a pulley belt 44. As indicated in Figure 1, this pulley belt can be driven from the engine, 42.

Referring more particularly to the tiller or cultivator units, it will be noted, see Figure 2, that the units are mounted at equi-distant spaced intervals on the shaft 4|. These units are so spaced that the rows of growing plants will go between adjacent units. There can be as many units 38 as desired, and in the present illustration I have shown six units, and hence five rows can be cultivated simultaneously.

However, the construction is such, as will later appear, that more or less units can be employed. Each tiller or cultivator unit 38 includes a short tiller shaft 45, having formed thereonor keyed thereto, a sprocket wheel 46. The shaft is preferably hollow with its endsinternally threaded, as at 41, for a purpose, which will also later appear. On each side of the sprocket 46, the shaft is provided with bearing races 48 and these bearing races are received in bearing caps 49. The caps are fitted in the opposite sides of a hollow arm or casting 56 and the caps can be detachably secured to said arm by means of machine screws 5|. Between the tiller shaft 45 and the bearing caps 49 and on opposite sides of the bearing races, can be placed oil retaining rings 52. A washer 53 can also be slid on the ends of the shaft against the oil sealing rings to hold the same in place.

The ends of each tiller shaft, on opposite sides of the supporting arm 50, carry the ground working teeth or tines 54, and obviously, the shape and character of these tines can vary according to the nature of the work being done.

From the description so far, it can be seen that the hollow casing or arm 50 carries and supports the tiller or cultivator shaft and forms a protection for the drive sprocket chain 6| which is trained about the sprocket wheel 46. This arm or casting 50 is suspended from the main drive shaft 4| for rocking movement and each tiller shaft 45 is rotated from this main drive shaft. Hence, the shaft 4| has mounted thereon for each tiller unit, a sprocket wheel 62 and the sprocket chain 6| of a tiller unit is trained about its respective sprocket wheel 62. The upper end of the hollow arm 50 detachably receives a cover plate 63 and the cover plate 63 and the adjacent end of the hollow arm 50 are provided with ears 64 for receiving holding bolts 65. This facilitates the connection of the arm with the shaft and the opposite sides of the arm carry bearing caps 66. Hubs 61 and 68 are each provided with axial polygonal bores 69 for a portion of their length and hence these hubs slip over the main drive shaft 4| and rotate therewith. The inner ends of the hubs have their bores enlarged to provide substantially cylindrical internal seats 16 for fitting over the ends of a drive sleeve H This drive sleeve H carries at its transverse center, the sprocket wheel 62 and the drive sleeve H is driven from one of the hubs; preferably the hub 68. The driving connection between the hub 68 and the sleeve II will be later described. It is to be noted, however, that the hubs '61 and 68 are secured on the shaft 4| by set screws 12 or other suitable means. These set screws are held against displacement and in an adjusted position by lock screws 73. The bearing caps 66 carry ball or roller bearing races I4 on each side of the sprocket wheel 62 and these races rotatably support the sleeve 1|. The sleeve can be shouldered to form an abutment against which the races can be fitted.

To bring about the tightening or loosening ofthe sprocket chain 6|, the bearing caps 86 can be supported by a cross strap 15 which can rest upon the upper end of the hollow arm or its closure cap 63. The strap 15 is adjustably connected to the rings by screws 16 and lock nuts 1'! are provided for holding the screws and the strap in an adjusted position. Obviously, by turning the screw 16, the caps can be raised or lowered. The caps are maintained by proper transverse alignment by means of alignment pins 18 which can be inserted through registering openings 19 formed in said bearing caps 66.

The driving connection between the hub 68 and the hollow shaft or sleeve H is important, in view of the fact that if a solid object, such as a rock is struck by the cultivator teeth, it is imperative that the drive be temporarily interrupted so as to prevent injury to the teeth and other parts of the cultivator. In accordance with my invention, I provide one end of the hollow shaft or sleeve 1| with a series of substantially V-shaped teeth 86 arranged in an annular row. Engaging the teeth are driving pins 8| movable radially in openings 82 formed in the hub 68. The inner ends of the pins 8| are shaped to correspond to the spaces between the teeth and the pins 8| are normally urged into driving engagement with the teeth 86 by a spring 83. The spring 83 can be a coil Spring with the ends connected to form a circle and the spring is snapped over the outer ends of the pins and the spring normally functions to hold the pins inward. The outer ends of the pins 8| can be slotted as at 84 to form a guide for receiving the spring.

During normal driving conditions, the pins 8| and the spring 83 will function to effectively transmit the drive from the main shaft 4| to the hollow shaft or sleeve H and thence to the individual tiller shafts 45. If an obstruction is met with, a sufficient drag will be created on the sleeve II to cause the springing or forcing out of the pins 8| and the pins will merely ratchet over the teeth 80. When the obstruction is overcome, normal driving will be resumed. A removable dust ring 85 is provided for closing the annular groove 86 formed in the hub 68 for the reception of the spring 83.

It can be seen from the foregoing description that an effective drive has been provided for each tiller shaft and that each tiller hollow arm '56 can swing or turn on the hubs 67 and 68 which form a support therefor.

Other means can be provided for interrupting the drive between the main drive shaft 4| an the hollow shaft or sleeve 1 I.

Great stress is laid on the means for supporting the individual tiller units and for raising and lowering the individual tiller units, and the means for raising and lowering these units will now be described. Each tiller or cultivator unit is provided with a lift arm 92 and the lower end thereof is welded or otherwise secured to spaced bearing rings 93. These rings are rotatably mounted upon the outer faces of the bearing caps 49 carried by the lower end of the hollow arm or casting 56. Hence, the hollow lift arm 92 has turning movement relative to the lower end of the supporting arm or casing 50. The lift arm 92 terminates in a head 94 and this head in turn has pivotally connected thereto, as at 95, a lift link 96. The lift link 96 has its upper end mounted for turning movement on a rock shaft 91. .This rock shaft 91' extends in spaced parallel relation to the main drive shaft 4| and aeiascs the rock shaft is carried for turning movement by bearing brackets 98. These bearing brackets 98 are welded, or otherwise secured, to the in-' termediate cross beam 31. It is to be noted that the rock shaft 91 is also of a polygonal shape in cross section. The rock shaft has mounted thereon, for turning movement therewith, a lift crank lever 99 for each lift link 96. Each lift crank arm 99 is formed on a sleeve I and the sleeve has a polygonal bore to correspond to the shape of the polygonal rock shaft 91 for turning movement therewith. Each lift link 96 has its upper end rockably mounted upon its sleeve I90 and is held on the sleeve against lateral shifting movement by means of a ring IUI and a lock washer 32. Each crank arm 99 is provided with a laterally extending finger I03 which is disposed normally in advance of its lift link 96.

It can be seen that the tiller unit is free to swing up and down relative to the ground, but that upon turning movement of the rock shaft 97, the lift. crank arms 99 can be brought into lifting contact with the links 96 for elevating all of the tiller units simultaneously.

The shaft 9? can be operated in any preferred manner for actuating the lift crank arms 99, but I prefer to provide a hydraulic lift mechanism.

This hydraulic lift mechanism includes a cylinder I64 having a piston (not shown) and an outwardly extending piston rod I05. The piston rod IE5 is connected by means of a pivot pin I69 with the upper end of a crank lever I07, which is secured to shaft 91. The fluid control for the cylinder IE4 has not been illustrated, as the hydraulic mechanism itself is of a well known construction found in the open market, but it is to be noted that when the piston rod I95 moves forwardly, the crank IQ! will rotate the shaft 9'1 in a counter-clockwise direction (see Fig. l) and all of the links 95 will be simultaneously raised and the cultivator units will be lifted off of the ground to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. Attention is called to the fact, however, that the rear end of the cylinder is pivotally connected, as at N28, to a bracket I09 mounted upon one of the beams 34.

Attention is again invited to the fact that the links 98 are in parallel relation to the hollow supporting arms 58 and, consequently, the tiller units will be raised in a parallel motion to the ground. This is important, as during the normal cultivating operation the units can raise and lower parallel to the ground.

In conjunction with each tiller unit 38, I

utilize a novel guard arrangement for protecting the growing plants from the cultivator teeth or tines 54 and for preventing dirt from being thrown over the growing plants. The guard also functions to aid in breaking up or pulverizing clods of earth. These guard shields are generally indicated by the reference characters H0 and the guard shield for each tiller unit includes side spaced parallel rigid guard plates III. The upper edges of the guard plates are provided with inturned top guard walls H2 and these walls project toward the hollow supporting arms 50 and the hollow lift arm 92. At spaced points these top walls II2 carry front and rear sleeves H3 and these sleeves are slidably mounted on front and rear supporting rods H4 and H5. Hence, the top walls II2 with their side guard plates I I I can be adjusted toward and away from one another on said rods, and the walls II2 are held in a selected adjusted position on the rods by set screws IIB. These set screws extend 8 through the sleeves and into binding engagement with the rods.

The rear rod H5, at its central portion, is welded to a sliding cuff Ill, and this cuff is adjustably mounted on the hollow lift arm 92. The lift arm can be provided with a row of equidistantly spaced openings I I8. A removable bolt II9, carried by the cuff Hi, can be selectively inserted in a desired opening so that the protecting shields will be held the desired distance relative to the ground.

The shield Ill] also includes a central slotted guard plate III which is welded or otherwise fastened to the cuff II'I for adjustment therewith. The front rods I I4 are welded to the uard plate III'.

The lower edges of the side shield plates III extend parallel to the ground for the major portion of their length and the extreme front portions of these edges can be beveled or inclined upwardly at an angle, as at I20, so as to facilitate the riding of these shields over clods of earth.

Each cultivator unit is supported in its travel over the ground by a following roller or wheel I2I. This roller is disposed directly in the rear of the shields and centrally of the longitudinal axis of the shield. The roller for each unit is rotatably mounted on an axle I22 carried by the forked end of a supporting bracket I23. The upper forward terminal of the supporting bracket is rockab-ly mounted on a pin I24 carried by ears I25 formed on a second adjustable cuff I26. This second cuff is also slidably mounted on the hollow lift arm 92 and is held in an adjusted position thereon by a bolt I21, which can be placed in any desired opening of the row of openings H8. Each supporting wheel bracket I23 pivotally carries a bearing I28 and this bearing rotatably receives the lower end of an operating crank I29. This crank is threaded into the rear end of the head 94. Due to the fact that the crank I29 is rotatably mounted in the bearing I28 but held against longitudinal movement therein, it can be seen that when the crank is turned, the bracket I23, with its roller I2 I, can be swung up and down for raising and lowering the tiller unit the desired distance relative to the ground. A scraper blade I3iJ can be carried by each bracket I23 for engaging the periphery of the roller I2I.

A flexible skirt I30 is secured to the rear edge of the guard plate III. Flexible skirts I3I can be carried by the rear ends of the side guard plates for confining the dirt within the shield. These skirts I3I are preferably made of rubber and can be fastened by screws or other suitable means to sides and rear ends of guard plates I I I. This provides a means of controlling the flow of dirt from under the shields during operation or confining it entirely so that small plants will not be covered with soil during cultivation.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that I have provided a novel means for operatively associating a rotary cultivator assembly in articulated relation with the forward end of a tractor, whereby the operator can accurately guide the units between growing rows of plants and that an exceptionally simple means is provided for allowing independent movement of the tiller units, for simultaneously raising all of the tiller units and for accomplishing adjustment of the tiller units for various row spacings, varying row widths, for varying depth of cultivation and adjustment of the shield with relation to the ground as Well as to provide means of con- 9 trolling dirt flow from underneath the shield while cultivating.

Obviously, my invention is not limited to tractors of the endless track type and the attachment can be advantageouslyused with tractors of the wheel type.

In some instances, it may be desirable to forcibly and resiliently urge the cultivator units toward the ground, such as when the tines are working in hard soil, this can be accomplished by resiliently urging the individual lift links for the units toward the ground. In Figures 21 to 23 inclusive I have illustrated one form of means for individually urging the lift links for each cultivator unit toward the ground. In these figures the lift rock shaft is indicated by the reference character I52 and this rock shaft has secured thereto for movement therewith a sleeve I53. The sleeve has formed thereon or secured thereto for movement therewith a lift crank arm I54. The lower end of the lift crank arm terminates in a laterally extending finger I55. Rotatably mounted on the sleeve I53 is a lift link I56 and this lift link corresponds to the lift link 96 shown in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive. Obviously when the rock shaft I52 is rotated by the operator the lift crank I54 will move toward the lift links and when the fingers I55 engage the links the links will be rocked to elevate the individual units. The lift link I59 can be held against lateral shifting movement on the sleeve I53 by a lock ring I58. The sleeve itself can be held in an adjusted position along the length of the rock shaft by a set screw I59. The means for urging each lifting link downwardly consists of a heavy spring I60. The spring I60 has a portion thereof coiled about a spool I6I and one end of the spring is anchored to the spool by a machine screw or the like I62. The spool itself is mounted for turning movement on a stud I63 carried by the lift crank and lateral shifting movement of the spool on the stud is normally prevented by a nut I64 threaded on the stud. The spring is provided with an arm I65 which terminates in a hook I66 and this hook engages over and against the lift link I56. The inner face of the spool I6! is provided with an annular row of openings I61 and the spool can be turned and shifted laterally so that any one of the openings can receive a pin I68 rigidly carried by the lift crank I54. Obviously by turning the spool the tension of the spring can be increased or decreased.

The arm I65 of the spring normally bears down on the lift link I56 and consequently this link and its tiller unit is normally and resiliently urged toward the ground.

In Figures 8 to inclusive I have shown one form of slip clutch for the drive to the individual tiller units and in Figures 14 to 17 inclusive I have shown another form of slip clutch and a warning alarm for the operator.

In these figures the main operating shaft is indicated by the reference character I69 and the individual tiller units are rockably mounted on the shaft and the individual tiller shafts are driven therefrom. The hollow casing or arm I10 for each unit receives the rotatable sleeve I10 carrying the sprocket I1! for the tiller shaft and this sleeve is rotatably supported in roller bearings I12 and I13 carried by end bearing caps I14. Longitudinal shifting movement of the arm in one direction on the shaft I59 is prevented by a split collar I which is clamped to the shaft I69 for rotation therewith. This split collar I15 carries a bearing I16 in which one end of the drive 10 sleeve I10 is received and a bearing ring I11 is placed between the sleeve I10 and the bearing I16. The arm on its opposite side receives a similar split collar I18 which is firmly clamped to the shaft I69. This collar has formed thereon a slip clutch plate I19 and a bearing flange I80. This bearing flange rotatably receives the sleeve I10 and a bearing ring of antifriction metal I8I can be disposed between the flange I89 and the drive sleeve I10. Keyed to the drive sleeve I10, as at I82 is a slip clutch drum 83 and bearing against the drum are clutch shoes I89 and I85. These clutch shoes are rockably mounted on pivot pins I86 carried by the slip clutch plate I19. Expansion springs I81 are employed for urging the shoes into engagement with the slip clutch drum I 83. From the description so far, of this form of my invention, it can be seen that the drive sleeve I10 is normally driven from the drive shaft I69 through the split collar I18, slip clutch plate I19, shoes I84 and I and the drum I83.

When the tiller tines strike a solid ob ect and the sleeve I10 is held against rotation the drum I83 will merely slide over the shoes I84 and I85 and injury to the working parts will be prevented.

In order to warn the operator that a solid object has been encountered, I provide a novel alarm mechanism. This alarm mechanism includes a bell I88 which is firm y fastened to the drum I83.

A pivoted clapper I39 is provided for the bell and this clapper is rockably mounted intermediate its ends on a pivot pin I carried by an ear I9I formed on the drum I83. The striking end of the clapper is normally urged toward the bell by a spring I92. The inner end of the clapper normally extends inwardly toward the clutch disc I19 and rigidly secured to one of the pins I86 for the clutch shoes is a trip cam arm I93. Obviously this cam trip arm rotates with the slip clutch disc I19. During the normal driving of the driven shaft carrying the tiller tines, the disc I19, the drum I83 and the bell I88 turn together as a unit. When a solid object i encountered the drum I83, the bell I88 and its clapper I89 remain stationary and the trip I93 rotating with the disc will strike the short arm of the clapper; rocking the clapper against the tension of its spring I92. As the trip rides past the short arm of the clapper the spring will forcibly urge the clapper into contact with the bell giving a sharp resounding tone. This operation will continue until forward movement of the tractor and tiller is stopped. Obviously the sounding of the bell gives the operator a warning that a solid object has been encountered.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of my invention, but what I claim as new is:

1. In a power driven cultivator unit, a rotating shaft, a drive shaft therefore, a lift shaft, ground working tines carried by the rotating shaft, a lift arm rockably mounted about the rotating shaft, the rotating shaft and the end of the lift arm being pivotally and rockably connected to,

the drive shaft and lift shaft respectively in the form of a parallelogram, a ground engaging supporting wheel carried by the lift arm, and means for raising and lowering the ground engaging wheel relative to the ground and the lift arm.

2. In a power driven multiple row cultivator, a plurality of independent transversely spaced cultivator units each including a rotary tiller shaft, a supporting arm for the shaft, means for rotatably supporting the shaft from said arm including removable hub caps carried by the opposite sides of the arm, bearings carried by said hub caps for the tiller shaft, means for raising and lowering the tiller shaft and supporting arm including rings rotatably mounted on the hub caps, and a lift arm rigidly secured to said rings.

3. In a power driven multiple row cultivator, a cultivator unit including a drive shaft, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for driving the tiller unit from the sleeve, a clutch disc secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, a slip clutch drum secured to the sleeve, clutch shoes carried by the disc and engaging said drum for normally setting up a driving connection between the disc and drum, and means for sounding an alarm upon the slipping of the disc and drum relative to one another.

4. In a power driven multiple row cultivator, a cultivator unit including a drive shaft, a sleeve rotatably mounted on said shaft, means for driving the tiller unit from the sleeve, a clutch disc secured to said shaft for rotation therewith, a slip clutch drum secured to the sleeve, clutch shoes carried by the disc and engaging said drum for normally setting up a driving connection between the disc and drum, and means for sounding an alarm upon the slipping of the disc and drum relative to one another, in-- cluding a bell rotatable with the drum and trip arm on the disc for actuating the clapper upon slipping of the disc relative to the drum.

5. In a power driven multiple row cultivator, a frame, a floating cultivator unit mounted below the frame including a rotary cultivator shaft,

a supporting arm rotatably carrying at its lower end the cultivator shaft, means rockably connecting the upper end of the supporting arm to the frame, a lift arm disposed at an angle to the supporting arm rockably connected to the lower end of the supporting arm, a connecting link pivotally connected to the upper end of the lift arm and to the frame above the pivot pointof the upper end of the supporting arm, said link being disposed in spaced parallel relation to the supporting arm, said supporting arm, the lift arm, and the link defining a parallelogram with said frame, and a depth regulating ground engaging wheel supporting the cultivator unit connected to the lift arm, whereby the cultivator unit will describe a pantographic motion as the wheel passes over varying contours of ground.

6. In a power driven multiple row cultivator as defined in claim 5, means independent of said wheel for raising the cultivator unit and wheel on the frame above the ground.

7. In a power driven multiple row cultivator as defined in claim 5, resilient means normally urging the cultivator unit and wheel toward the ground.

8. In a power driven multiple row cultivator as defined in claim 5, a hood for the cultivator shaft secured to and movable with the lift arm.

9. In a power driven multiple row cultivator, a frame, a floating cultivator unit disposed below said frame including a cultivavtor shaft, a supporting arm rotatably carrying at its lower end the cultivator shaft, means rockably connecting the upper end of the supporting arm to the frame,

12 a lift arm disposed at an angle to the supporting arm rockably connected at its lower end to the lower end of the supporting arm, a link pivotally connected to the upper end of the lift arm and to the frame above the pivot point of the upper end of the supporting arm,,said link being disposed in spaced parallel relation to the supporting arm, said supporting arm, the lift arm and the link defining a parallelogram with said frame,

a depth regulating ground engaging wheel sup.

porting the cultivator unit connected to the lift arm, and means for raising the cultivator unit to an inoperative position above the ground including a crank arm normally out of engagement with the link for permitting free movement of the link and means actuating the crank arm for moving the same in engagement with the link for raising said link.

10. In a power driven multiple row cultivator as defined in claim 5, means for varying the position of the depth regulating ground wheel relative to the cultivator shaft.

11. In a power driven multiple row cultivator as defined in claim 5, a hood for said cultivatorshaft carried by the lift arm and movable therewith, and means for adjusting the hood on said lift arm.

12. In a power driven cultivator unit, a frame, arotating cultivator shaft, ground working tines carried by the shaft, a lift arm rockably mounted about the rotating shaft, a movable parallelogram suspension for the shaft including the lift arm, a connecting link and a supporting arm, and rockable and pivotal connections at the corners of the parallelogram, said rockable and pivotal connections means pivotally connecting the link to the lift arm and to the frame and the supporting arm to the frame, a hood secured to the lift arm partially encasing the tines, and an adjustable depth regulating wheel secured to the lift arm engaging the ground for raising and lowering the rotating shaft and hood in parallel relation to the ground at all times.

MANDO S. ARIENS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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